Engine



T. E. LEWIS.

ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED 0CT.8. 1915.

1,336,846, Patented Apr. 13, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

T. E. LEWIS.

ENGINE.

APPLlCATlON FILED OCT-8,1915.

1,336,846, Patented Apr. 13, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

T E B G E E; m-Zfi 15 z C H -Qc gm, n

B u I T. E. LEWIS.

ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED 0CT.8,1915.

L336,84;6, Patented Apr. 13, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

0 z v w THOMAS EDGAR LEWIS, OF PENYGRAIG, RHONDDA, WALES.

ENGINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 13,1920.

Application filed October 8, 1915. Serial No. 54,847.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS EDGAR LEWIS, a subject of the King of GreatBritain, and a resident of Penygraig, Rhondda, South Wales, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Engines, of which thefol= through the center of the machine are of equal length from one edgeof the cam to the other. Further features of my invention reside in theprovision for reversibility by merely tumbling the cam from one side ofits center line to the other. A still further feature is the provisionin the application of my invention to steam engines of means for varyingthe steam cut off by adjusting the position ofthe cam either by hand orautomatically in connection with the engine governor.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated'an embodiment of myinvention designed to operate as a steam or expansion engine.

Figure 1 is an end sectional elevation.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view.

Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate diagrammatically a means for varying andadjusting the position of the cam or cams.

Figs. 5 and 6 show a means whereby the cams can be caused to tumbleunder the pressure of steam acting on the piston.

Figs. 7, 8 and 9 show how the movements of the cam or cams can becontrolled by a governor to provide an automatic steam expansion gear,and

Figs. 10 and 11 show a simple two cylinder engine where the cylindersremain stationary.

Referring to these drawings and particularly Figs. 1 to 9 A designates acasing within which a cylinder body B rotates as will hereafter appear,and thus imparts rotary motion to a central shaft C to which thecylinder body is connected. The cylinders D are bored or otherwiseformed in the cylinder body B in diametrically opposed pairs and thepistons E which reciprocate in the cylinders are rigidly connectedtogether in pairs, the rigid connecting member F being slotted toaccommodate the central shaft C. Suitably located upon these rigidconnecting members I mount rollers or other projections G whichcooperate with a cam path H of specially designed curvature. Thiscurvature is such that at all positions of the pistons E the rollers orprojections G aforesaid maintain contact with it. The projections orrollers form a correct trammeling at a line directly through the centerof shaft or in other words the cam is of such a design that themeasurements from the outer path on one side of the center of the shaftto the other side in a line through the center are exactly alike. Thecylinder body B is preferably slightly tapered and the internalperiphery of the casing A is similarly tapered and the parts are groundto insure a correct but easy working fit. In order to prevent leakage inspite of the easy fit, I propose to provide circular grooves or ridges Jaround the cylinder head and it will be found that the lubricating oilentering these grooves will form a liquid seal against the escape of thesteam or the like. I preferably provide two rows or rings of cylindersside by side, the cylinders of one row being staggered relative to thecylinders of the other row, and I provide inlet chambers or ports K andexhaust chambers or ports L common to the two rows of cylinders. Thearrangement of the inlet port or chamber K is such that immediatelyprior to one cylinder passing clear of the inlet port K, anothercylinder commences to come into position to receive the steam so thatthere is a continual flow of steam into the cylinders, and continualexhaust whereby a very even torque effect results and moreover theengine will start up in any position of the cylinder body.

In order to provide for reversibility I propose to provide the two inletports K connected by branch pipes M to a common main steam pipe N, and Iprovide a two way cock 0 at the junction of the branch pipes with themain steam pipe and the direction of the rotation will depend upon whichway the two way cock is opened. It will be readily seen that thisarrangement applies to an engine having an expansion line of definitelength. I may, however, provide for reversibility by providing meanswhereby the position of the cam path or paths H can be varied. It willbe appreciated with this type of apparatus that if the cam path be movedfrom its position upon one side of the axis of the machine to a similarposition upon the other side of the axis, reversibility of the directionof rotation will be effected. A means by which this may be accomplishedis illustrated diagrammatically in Figs. 3 and 4. In this case thecontrolling lever P is coupled by the pin P to the cam H which isrotatable upon the hub P and the position of the cam H can be adjustedat any position within the limits imposed by the slot P and the desiredresult obtained.

Figs. 5 and 6 indicate an arrangement where a slot Q is cut in the cam Hand a pin Q is fitted rigidly on the cover I atthe same time passingthrough the cam. The slot is such that an easy fit between it and thepin is afforded and it will be seen that the pressure of steamacting onthe piston will tumble the cam in the opposite direction. to that ofrotation of the engine and thus afford a means for obtainingreversibility. Moreover by altering the position of the cam path it willbe seen that a variable expansion line is got and means can be providedfor varying the steam cut off as required. By associating the cam pathor paths with a governor as shown at T and thus providing for itsautomatic movement, the engine is provided with an automatic steamexpansion gear.

Figs. 7 8 and 9 indicate an arran ement where a lever B engages the camH by a pin R and crank R the pin being carried through a stationarybearing R in the side cover. Accommodation is made on the cam for thecrank R to work in, and it will be seen that the cam moves in theopposite direction to that in which the lever is moved. The means forvarying the position of the cam are not confined to those indicated butmay be of any desired form. Where two cams are employed as in theexample described, the arrangements would be such as to insure themovement of both cams in unison.

Where two rows of cylinders are provided in the foregoing manner, thepistons of each row of cylinders will cooperate with a different campath, and it will be readily understood that when steam is admitted tothe cylinders the pistons will reciprocate and by reason of thecooperation with the rollers or equivalent devices carried upon therigid piston connecting members, the cylinder body will rotate bodily.It may, however,

be found desirable to reverse this arrangement and provide that thecylinder body remains stationary while the cam path rotates. A simpleform of such an engine is shown in Fi s. 10 and 11 where the cylinders Dare fi cam H is keyed upon and rotates with the shaft C. In this casethe reciprocation of the pistons E, by reason of the projections Gengaging the cam, causes the cam to rotate and carry with it the shaftC. It will be designed and applied as an internal combustion engine orhydraulic motor and can be made to operate with either compressible orincom ressible fluid. What claim and desire to secure by Letters Patentis:

'1. A rotary engine comprising an outer casing provided with inlet andexhaust chambers, a cylinder body rotatable Within the casing, opposedcylinders formed in the xed to a bed plate S and the cylinder body,central driving shaft to l which the cylinders are rigidly connected,pistons directly coupled together. in pairs, yokes connecting said pairsof pistons, projecting devices carried by said yokes, a cam path withwhich said cam projections cooperate, means for tumblin said cam to varythe steam cut off and e ect reversal of the direction of rotation of thecylinder body and its connected driving shaft.

2. A rotary engine comprising in com bination an outer tapering casingprovided with inlet and exhaust chambers, a cylinder body rotatablewithin the casing, opposed cylinders formed in the cylinderbody, saidcylinder body taperingin the direction of its axis and fittin thesimilarly ta ered casing, a central driving shaft to whic the cylindersare rigidly connected, pistons directly coupled together in pairs, okesconnecting said pairsof pistons, pro ecting devices carried by saidyokes, and a cam path with which said projections cooperate.

In testimon whereof I afiix my signature in presence 0 two witnesses.

THOMAS EDGAR LEWIS. Witnesses WILLIAM J. PERKINS, SYDNEY BRYANT.

